Portable elevator and dump.



No. 736,833. PATENTED AUG. 18, 1903. J. & D. FISHER. PORTABLE ELEVATOR AND DUMP.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21, 1902. N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 736,838. PATENTED AUG. 18, 1903. J. & D. FISHER. PORTABLE ELEVATOR AND DUMP.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 21, 1902.

N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ivo. 736,833;

UNITED STATES Patented August 1 8, 1903'.

PAT NT OFFICE.

PORTABLE ELEVATOR AND DUMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 736,833, dated August 18, 1903.

Application filed June 21,1902. Serial No. 112,623. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JOHN FISHER and DANIEL FISHER, citizens of the United States, residing at Kinsman, in the county of Grundy and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Portable Elevator and Dump, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of devices which are used for unloading wagons by dumping or tilting the same and for conveying the contents thus dumped to a place of storage, and it has special reference to that class of dumping and elevating deviceswhich are known as portable, the same being mounted upon Wheels, so as to be readily conveyed from one place to another.

Our invention has for itsobject to provide a device of this class which by reason of its special construction shall be specially adapted to the unloading and conveyance to the crib of ear-corn, while this does not preclude other uses to which the device may be found adaptable.

Theinvention consists in the improved construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan View of a portable elevator and dump constructed in accordance with our invention, the same being shown in position for use. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the extensionconveyer used in connection with our invention and of which, owing to lack of space, only a small portion appears in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View taken longitudinally through the dump and showing the approaches folded for transportation. Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken transversely through the dump and showing the elevator and a portion of the conveyor in elevation, but with a portion of the lower end of the elevator broken away to expose the construction. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional detail view taken through the dump and showing the dumping slats in the position which they occupy when the wagon is being tilted for the purpose of unloading.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are indicated by like characters of reference.

The bed of our improved dumping device is composed, essentially, of a frame 1, supported upon bolsters 2 2, which in turn rest upon axles 3 3, carrying wheels 4 4, which sup- 5 5 port the device and render it portable, so that it may be conveyed from one place to another. The frame 1 embodies in its construction the side pieces 5 5, end pieces 6 6, and an intermediate transverse brace 7, between which latter and the front end piece the flooring 8 is laid. A longitudinal connecting beam or brace 9 may be used to impart additional strength. The flooring embodies in its construotion the longitudinal tilting slats 10 10, which are laid a distance apart corresponding to the width or gage between the wheels of an ordinary farm-wagon and which practically form a track for the same. These tilting slats are mounted upon a pivot-rod 11, which extends transversely under the flooring near the front end thereof, so that when a wagon rests upon the said tilting slats and the latter are released from the device, (to be hereinafter described,) which normally supports them in a level position, the excess of weight'in rear of the pivotal point shall cause them to be tilted to the position shown in Fig. 5, thus causing the contents of the wagon-box to be dumped when the end-gate is thrown open or removed. The means for supporting the tilting slats normally in a level position comprise a transverse bar 12, arranged in a recess 13 in the front side of the transverse brace 7 and connected with the latter by hinges 14 at its lower edge. Suitably connected with one end of the bar 12 isa lever 15, which is placed in a forwardly-inclined position, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 5, and the upper end of which is enlarged, as shown at 16, for the double purpose of forming a handle by means of which it may be conveniently manipulated and also to cause the upper edge of the bar 12 to be thrown by the Weight thereof in a forward position under the rear ends of the tilting slats 10,which are normally supported thereon, as will be seen in Fig. 3 of the drawings. While this means for supporting the ends of the tilting slats in an elevated position is absolutely secure, the points of contact are but small, and no matter how heavy the weight supported ertion is required to release them and permit upon the said tilting Slats only a trifling them to be tilted. When the slats have been tilted to the position shown in Fig. 5, the supporting-bar 12 immediately reassumes its forwardly-tilted position, to which it is forced by the weight of the lever 15, the movement of which is limited by a keeper 17. This being the case it will be seen that when the slats 10 are restored to their normal level position their ends will engagethe front side of the bar 12 and throw the latter back while passing the same, the locked position of the bar 12 being reassumed under the impulse of the weighted lever 15 as soon as the ends of the tilting bars have moved past. The tilting bars are restored to the level position by the weight of the wagon passing 0d the dump, as will be readily understood.

It is obvious that the supporting-bar12 as well as the ends of the tilting slats may be shod or faced with metal in order to prevent excessive wear upon the contacting surfaces.

The bed of the machine is provided with a truss-frame on its upper side composed of the beams 18 18 and a brace 19, which connects meeting ends of said beams with the sides of the bed-frame. At the ends of the latter are hinged the approaches 20 20, which when not in use are folded and supported upon the truss-beams 18, as will be seen in Fig. 2. This makes an extremely convenient method of supporting the said approaches when the machine is being conveyed from one place to another. For convenience in folding the approaches we provide the latter at the sides thereof with uprights 21, the upper ends of which are connected by flexible connections 22, such as ropes or chains, with winding-drums 23, having cranks or handles 24, by manipulating which the ropes or chains may be wound upon the said drums, thus raising the said approaches to a point at which they will be caused by their own weight to swing over upon the beams 18, Where they are supported while in transit. In place of the two drums 23 (shown in the drawings) a single centrally-arranged winding-drum might be substituted, as will be readily understood, without departing from the spirit of our invention.

At the rear end of the bed or platform of the machine between the rear end beam 6 and the transverse brace 7 is arranged a chute 25, for which a hinged lid or cover 26 is provided, which said cover may be readily thrown open when the contents of a wagon is to be dumped into the chute.

27 designates the elevator, which is composed of an upper and lower frame or section 28 and 29, connected by hinges 30 in such a manner as to be conveniently folded for transportation upon the bed of the machine. When extended for operation to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the lower end of the elevator-trough extends under the discharge end of the chute 25 and is there provided with a lip 31, which guides the material passing from the chute to the elevator onto the endless carrier 32 of the latter. The said endless carrier is constructed in the usual manner of an endless apron provided with transverse slats and supported at its upper and lower ends upon rollers at the upper and lower ends of theelevator proper. Theupper roller, the shaft of which is designated 33, is provided with a pinion 34, meshing with a pinion 35 upon a shaft 36, which is mounted in suitable bearings 37 upon the side of the elevator-trough. The lowerend of the shaft 36 has a pinion 38, meshing with a pinion 39 upon a short shaft-section 40, which in turn is connected by a universal joint 41 with the tumbling-rod 42, leading to the source of power. By this construction and arrangement of the gearing motion is applied to the shaft at the upper end of the elevator, and a pulling movement is therefore applied to the endless carrier instead of the pushing movement, which would result if the power were applied directly to the lower shaft, the practical advantage of which will be obvious.

43 designates a conveyer the trough of,

endless carrier 46 is supported. A shaft 46 having a pinion 47, that meshes with the pinion 34 upon the upper roller-shaft of the ele vator, extends longitudinally alongside the conveyer-trough 44 and is provided at its inner end with a pinion 48, meshing with a pinion 49 upon the roller-supporting shaft at the inner end of the conveyer-trough, thus transmitting motion to the said shaft in such a manner that a pulling force shall be exerted upon the endless carrier in like manner as upon the endless carrier of the elevator. The sides of the conveyer-trough 44 are provided with hinged doors 50, which may be swung inwardly to the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, thus causing the material passin g into the conveyer to be discharged through the door-opening in the side of the latter. When this is the case, we intend to mount upon the side of the conveyer-trough thus thrown open a discharge chute or spout 51, supported upon the upper edge or the side of the trough by means of books 52 and serving to convey the material thus discharged to a distance from the conveyer-trough on either side of the same. It will be understood that when the chutes 51 are used their discharge ends should be slightly tilted in a downward direction, so as not to obstruct the passage of material. It will further be understood that doors, as 50, may be employed in any desired number and that the arrangement of said doors maybe varied in any manner desired.

Suitable means are to be provided for the support of the elevator and conveyer troughs,

and suitable bearings are to be provided for the shafts by means of which motion is transas the showing of the same would serve no useful purpose. V

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed,

the operation of this device will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains. Being supported upon wheels in the manner described, the device may be conveniently transported to the cribs or places of storage where it shall be desired to use the same. When the wheeled portion of the machine has been arranged in the desired location, the approaches are unfolded by simply lifting them olf the trussbeams upon which theyhave been supported. The elevator and conveyer are then arranged in the desired position with the lower end of the elevator-trough communicating with the discharge end of thechute 25, and connection is then made through the medium of the tumbling-rod (or in any other convenient mannor) with the source of power. When a wagon is driven onto the dump, the wheels thereof resting upon the tilting slats 10, and has reached the desired position, the supported ends of the tilting slats may be released by manipulating the lever 15, thus causing the wagon to be tilted and the contents of the wagon-box to slide into the chute 25, the lid of which, 26,has been previously thrownopen.

It is also obvious that the end-gate ll of the wagon-box will have been opened or removed. The material thus dumped into the chute 25 is conveyed to the elevator, by means of which and the approximately-horizontal conveyer 43 it is carried to the desired point of discharge. When the wagon is driven off the dump, the tilting slats 10 are restored to their normal approximately level and locked position, as has been already stated.

We have in the foregoing described shafts and gearing as the means for conveying motion from the source of power to theendless 7 carriers of the elevator and the conveyer. We

would haye it understood that any other suitable means wellknown in the mechanical arts may be substituted without departing from the spirit of our invention. We would further have it understood that any other changes or modifications as regards the construction andarrangement of the detailed parts of the device which may be used without impairing the efficiency thereof may be resorted to by us when We shall deem it desirable todo so.

Having thus described our invention, we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1."In a'device of the class described, the combination with the frame having the trussbeams, of the approaches hinged at the ends of the frame, uprights secured to the sides of said approaches, winding-drums journaled to "the frame, and flexible connections between said winding-drums and the uprights upon the approaches, substantially as set forth. 2. The combination of a truss -'frame, an

approach hinged at the end of said trussframe, an upright having rigid connection with said approach, a suitably-supported winding-drum, and a flexible connection between said winding-drum and the upper end of the upright, substantially as set forth.

3. In a deviceof the class described, the combination with abed supported uponwheels and having tilting slats pivotally arranged therein, approaches at the ends thereof, and

a chute arranged at the rear end of the tilting slats, of an elevator adapted to receive the discharge from the chute, and a shaft for conveying motion to the roller supporting the endless carrier at the upper end of said elevator, said shaft being journaled in bearings upon the side of the elevator-trough and'connected at its upper end by bevel-gearing with a roller supporting the endless carrierand at its lower end with the source of stantially as set forth. I

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a wheel-supported frame having a chute supported in said frame above the ground, tilting devices whereby thecontents of wagon-boxes may be discharged in the said chute, an elevator having its leg extended under said chute to receive the discharge therefrom, a horizontal conveyer arranged to receive the discharge of the elevator, a shaft journaled upon the side of the elevator-trough for conveying motion to the power, sub

roller-shaft at the upper end of the elevator,

and a shaft journaled in boxes upon the side of the conveyer-trough for transmitting motion from said shaft to the roller-shaft at the outer end .of the conveyer, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have hereto affixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN FISHER. DAN. FISHER. Witnesses:

JOHN H. ENNIS, DANIEL DOUGHERTY.

IIO 

